US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall warned Friday that China's latest military moves around Taiwan are raising the level of risk, as Taipei spotted more Chinese military activities around the island.
In a conference call from the US Pacific island of Guam, Kendall told reporters, commenting on Chinese military exercises in the vicinity of Taiwan, that "China was very provocative," adding, "We live in a dangerous time."
He considered that the military activities carried out by China during the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan increased the level of risks and violated a number of criteria;
These include crossing the demarcation line representing the unofficial border in the Second Taiwan Strait, firing into Japan's exclusive economic zone, and shooting over Taiwan itself.
The US official said that what China has done in the vicinity of Taiwan is not aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region, and considered that Beijing exaggerated its reaction to Pelosi's visit to Taipei, expressing his hope that China's behavior will return to the standards set before.
China described Pelosi's visit as a violation of its sovereignty, and responded to the visit with military exercises described as the largest in the vicinity of the island.
For its part, Taiwan has conducted a series of military exercises and vowed to defend itself in the event of an attack by China.
The United States and Taiwan accused China of seeking, through recent military moves, to change the status quo in the region.
Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense announced today that it has detected the entry of 6 ships and 17 Chinese aircraft into the area around the island.
The ministry said eight Chinese planes crossed the demarcation line of the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan is self-governing, but China considers it an inalienable part of its territory and asserts that the island will return to its sovereignty one day, by force if necessary.